Officials: It’s time to end the violence

A spate of gang shootings to kick off the summer is never a good sign, but it is one police expect.

But now, five gang-related shootings – one in which an officer killed a man suspected of taking part in a gang-related shooting on Father’s Day – may be enough to kick-start what some would say is a necessary community conversation.

It’s time to put an end to the violence.

“I’m really upset,” said Art Terrazas, who has worked to end gangs and gang violence for several years. “We’re losing kids, whether they’re 10 or 26, like the guy that got shot Friday. It’s idiotic.”

The shootings began with taunts between rival gangs on Father’s Day weekend, June 16-17. An insult led to rivals firing several shots at each other, but no one was hurt.

The violence heated up Friday, when police attempted to arrest Adrian Perales, 26, at an apartment near the Greeley Mall. He held a gun to a woman’s head, warning police he’d kill her if they entered. A policeman shot and killed him. On Sunday, more taunts between rival gangs led to the death of 20-year-old Fabian Flores, who was a front-seat passenger in a car. Rivals shot into the car and Flores was struck in the eye. On Monday, there was another gang shooting, this time between members of the same gang. Two more have been arrested for involvement in the Father’s Day shootings at Island Grove Village apartments.

Greeley police are used to responding to gang shootings, and do not believe they’re seeing an increase. Summer and its unbearable heat – especially lately – aggravates matters, most agree. But these recent shootings show the gangsters are now finally hitting their targets.

“Both our gang unit and patrol are doing their best to let gang members know we’re interested, and we’re contacting them every chance we get, which is telling them to knock it off,” said Greeley police Chief Jerry Garner. “We’re also talking with other law enforcement agencies about cooperative efforts.”

Garner said police will continue to deliver one sound, clear message to anyone who even participates in a gang crime, from housing a suspect to helping them get away.

“As long as you’ve got two gangs mad at each other, that could be a problem that tit-for-tat continues through the summer,” he said. “We’re obviously concerned. The message we’re getting out, is if you choose to do that, we’ll do our best to put everyone in jail.”

While his officers continue to do their part to put the perpetrators of violence away, the solution can’t rest solely on their shoulders.

“The prevention piece that’s missing is what the families can do for these kids,” Garner said. “What they can do and haven’t done. When granddad and dad and brother are all gangsters, it shouldn’t be surprising. What we’re missing is having families do their piece. They’re letting them grow up that way … that’s what we need help on. Police are never going to be able to do that.”

This week, Garner and Terrazas will convene the police chief’s Latino Advisory Group, in which they will start that conversation.

It’s not like groups haven’t tried in the past. Terrazas chaired the Youth Gang Prevention group years ago in Greeley, shortly after another rash of gang shootings and murders.

By now, he said, there are a lot of examples of programs that work well to curb the violence, such as the Rev. Leon Kelly’s Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives in Denver.

Dick Maxfield, the property manager for Island Grove Village apartments, where the shootings began, said he’s done all he can since 1998 to curb gang violence at his doorstep. From background checks on all lease-holders, to after-school education for kids and GED programs for adults, to round-the-clock security, required parking stickers for all residents, to constant vigilance to watch for gang colors and signs along 14th Avenue.

“We’re kind of ground zero out there,” said Maxfield, exasperated that the gang violence keeps seeping into what he’s worked to make a safe, violence-free nook on the north edge of town. “We’ve done everything we can do. … They’re not people who live there.”

Terrazas said it’s time for the community to step up, now that the gang members seem to be getting more brazen with shootings in the light of day.

“If the community is going to complain about this, the community better step up and do something about it,” Terrazas said. “We need to get the interest back up, especially now that it’s getting hot, and it’s not just the summer that’s getting heated up. It’s just the beginning. I’d say this is not the end.”